I am about to be. Bloody hell, Carsmile's talked to Tom Paulin! On the list of brilliant people to talk to, including Woody allen, Mark Cousins, Robert Forster, Flowella Benjamin et al, he would have to be pretty high up there. As opposed to talking to members of Tompaulin, which anyone can do and isn't very exciting really. Well, only a bit. And someone's grandpa was in a B&S video? Blimey, the things you find out... Knightowl:

There's a world of difference between how a band like Oasis functions and a bunch of lads slogging it out in a pub somewhere. Where on the scale B&S are at this point I have no idea, but I think it likely Stuart rules the roost.

Hmmm. Possibly, but it seems to me that there are a few strong personalities and very good musicians in B&S who each have a lot to contribute, and do so. Stuart seems like the kind of guy who's not going to bully and impose his will on others as well. And hey, they're all mates, and they all get equal money don't they? It's only a game show, la la la... David:

Is it Hyndland Church Hall that Stuart M lived and the band rehearsed? I saw letters about the aforementioned building in the Glasgow Herald the other day although no mention of the band.

Yes, it was a meeting of about 50 residents and church-goers who were trying to decide what to do about raising money for the church I think, because otherwise it'll have to be sold or demolished or whatever. But why should B&S be mentioned? The chances of someone getting up in the middle of the meeting and saying "we can't demolish this church, Belle and Sebastian used to play here!" are somewhat slim. Kendra:

anyone else see *wonderland* and leave feeling like all their nerve endings were exposed?

I refer to Papercuts #4, Mr N.Dastoor. It will break your heart. Incidentally, I managed to pick up the rather wonderful Michael Nyman soundtrack for 3 quid the other week. Lovely. Peter:

I'm thinking of organising a Maryhill Dole Office Reunion All-Nighter.

Fantastic! I went to the Maryhill dole office a few times to try and find a shite job, but they didn't have any. They've re-done the pub across the road as well, but I think I'd still be too scared to go in. We could all walk to Calumn Shearer's house instead and sing folk songs while his dad bangs a drum. I like the idea of someone throwing a shoe at Lloyd Cole as well. Did he bring an extra shoe with him, or did he have to walk home with one shoe on? All lop-sided like a haggis. I once walked home from primary school still wearing my sannies after gym, and didn't realise until I was halfway to my house. Crazy days. A woman who writes for Scotland on Sunday newpaper is going out with Lawrence Donegan (the Commotions bassist), whom she annoying refers to constantly as 'The Boyfriend'. Apparently they went to see Lloyd play and he said that all bass players soak their hands in pish to toughen the skin. Do any bass players out there use this technique? Does it work with someone else's pish or does it have to be your own? Finally, The Pinefox (he is the definitive, for as someone more intelligent than me remarked, "do we know of any others?"):

...

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it is what it is.

That clause is below your usual standard, Cook. I mean, can you tell me about anything that is not what it is?

I hate English teachers.

"The Smiths are a good band for singles. I don´t think that they did a good complete album, but they convinced their fans that they were unforgettable. And they´re not better than the Go-Betweens or Belle and Sebastian".

Isn´t it cute ?????

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No, it's bollox. The last sentence is an outrage. You can be the biggest Go-Betweens fan in the world - and I am, as you know - and still think it's the most flagrant, flatulently implausible bit of self-promotion you've seen since Worksop, pulling themselves up by their bootstraps, sneaked into Division 3 (South. Or North. One or the other).

Hmmm. The statement is, in my opinion, correct. However that's not to condone it. It shouldn't have been made, there's a fine line between confidence and arrogance. Still, the phrase "not better" could simply mean "as good as", or "better" could be in the sense of "more worthy" although it doesn't seem that way. I'm confusing myself now. I'll stop. Altogether. Alasdair xx PS Deacon Blue's finest moment was undoubtedly the single "I was right and you were wrong" with the piano version of "Wages Day" on the b-side. Superb. +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the undead Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list mail sinister@missprint.org. To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to majordomo@missprint.org. WWW: http://www.missprint.org/sinister +-+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" "tech-heads and students" +-+ +-+ "the cardie wearing biscuit nibbling belle & sebastian list" +-+ +-+ "sinsietr is a bit freaky" - stuart david, looper +-+ +-+ "pasty-faced vegan geeks... and we LOST!" - NME April 2000 +-+ +-+ "peculiarly deranged fanbase" "frighteningly named +-+ +-+ Sinister List organisation" - NME May 2000 +-+ +----------------------------------------------------------------------+